Abercrombie to keep Morita as PUC chair on 'holdover basis'

Gov. Neil Abercrombie said Thursday he will keep Hermina Morita as chairwoman of the Public Utilities Commission Chairwoman on a "holdover basis" after her term ends on June 30.

"We are at a very critical juncture in developing our clean energy future and the Public Utilities Commission needs stability to continue to address many of the important regulatory issues before it," Abercrombie said in a prepared statement. "Therefore, I intend to keep Mina Morita as Chair of the PUC, on a holdover basis beyond June 30, 2014 when her term ends."

"At the present time, Chair Morita has business before the Board of Land and Natural Resources, which must be addressed," Abercrombie said. "She will continue to serve in the position while these issues are being resolved."